OHA holds press event discussing COVID-19, boosters and monkeypox

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The Oregon Health Authority held a press event Wednesday morning to discuss the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, booster vaccines and the current outlook on monkeypox.

Dean Sideliner, M.D. MSEd, health officer and state epidemiologist at OHA, led the press event with an update on the current facts of the pandemic.

The good news, Oregon is currently seeing decreased case counts of COVID-19. In September, Oregon has reportedly seen a 44% drop in COVID-19 cases however some hospitals are still struggling with high case numbers.

OHA also reported that the new COVID-19 bivalent boosters have shown great results in studies, protecting people from the newest variants of COVID-19.

Those new boosters are becoming available across the state right now.

OHA also gave updates on the current status of monkeypox.

In Oregon, there are currently 179 confirmed or presumed cases. If Oregon follows the pattern of other states, OHA reports that cases should rise some and then start to decrease.

OHA is beginning to increase its reporting on monkeypox stats starting with new monthly reports based on race, ethnicity, language and disability (or REALD) data and sexual orientation and gender identity (or SOGI) data.

Sidelinger said that the purpose of these reports is to help "illuminate the experiences" of those with diverse identities and to help better shape the narrative of monkeypox.

The monkeypox vaccine is still limited but more is becoming available.

OHA has been prioritizing first doses and as more vaccines become available second doses are being administered after 28 days.

Visit the OHA website to stay up to date on all information on monkeypox and COVID-19 in Oregon.